Roller and track unit for the power actuated endgate of scrapers



July 4, 1950 A. s. GURRIES ETAL ROLLER AND TRACK UNIT FOR THE POWER ACTUATED ENDGATE OF SCRAPERS Flled Oct 50, 1948 JHlUhiZe J1 m mm:

H TTYS Patented July 4, 1950 ROLLER AND TRACK UNIT FOR THE POWER ACTUATED ENDGATE OF SCRAPERS Albert G. Gurries and John A. White, Jr., Gilroy,

Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Be-Ge Manufacturing 00., Gilrcy, Califi, a corporation of California Application October 30, 1948, Serial No. 57,484

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to earth working scrapers, and in particular is directed to that type of scraper which includes a bowl having a rear endgate pivoted for forward swinging motion through the bowl from a normally retracted position; such rear endgate being actuated by a power cylinder disposed longitudinally to the rear of, and connected to, said endgate.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a novel connecting unit between the power cylinder and swingable rear endgate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection, between the power cylinder and endgate, which comprises a novel roller and track unit which includes an arcuate track,;on the rear of the endgate, and an anti-friction roller assembly, on the piston rod of the cylinder, riding the track in non-separable relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller and track unit, as in the preceding paragraph, which provides a free running, non-binding connection between the power cylinder and rear endgate.

An additional object of the invention is to provide 'a roller and trackunit, as above, which is designed so that the thrust of the power cylinder is imparted effectively and positively to the rear endgate without interfering with the aforesaid free running of the connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable roller and track unit for use as a connection as described, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of n such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the roller and track unit as in use on a scraper; the latter being shown in part, with certain portions in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan View, partly'in section, of the roller and track unit as connected between the piston rod of the power cylinder and the back of the rear endgate.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the front mount for the power cylinder.

Referring now more particularly to the-characters of reference on the drawings, the roller and track unit is here illustrated as embodied in an earth working scraper which includes a bowl, indicated generally at l, which bowl includes side plates 2 connected together at the back and top by a cross beam 3, and further connected by a 2 transverse blade base ;4 at the bottom of the bowl some distance ahead of its rear end. The transverse blade base 4 carries a transverse digging blade 5. i

At its rear end the bowl I is fixed in connection with a rearwardly projecting, open frame 6 supported, on opposite sides, by pneumatic-tire wheels 1. The forward end of the bowl (not shown) is adapted for connection to a tractor in draft relation by suitable means. l

A normally retracted, rear endgate 8 is included in the bowl I, and. is pivoted, as at 9, at its lower end and adjacent the blade base 4 for forward swinging motion to eject a load from said bowl over the blade 5. The rear endgate 8 includes forwardly projecting. side wings II) which work in closely adjacent relationship to the side plates 2 of bowl I.

The present invention deals with the power actuated mechanism employed to swing the rear endgate 8 from its retracted, carrying position, as in full lines in Fig. 1, to its advanced, dumping position, as in dotted lines in said figure.

Such power actuated mechanism comprises a longitudinally extending power cylinder ll dis... posed within the rearwardly projecting open frame 6; such power cylinder being suitabl fixed in this position by means including a front mount [2 and a rear mount l2a, hereinafter described in detail. The piston rod I3 of the power cylinder ll projects forwardly toward'the normallyretracted rear endgate 8, and the roller and track unit, to which the present invention is. directed, provides the connection between such piston rod l3 and said rear endgate 8. The roller and track unit comprises the following:

The rear endgate 8 is fitted, on the back-and substantially centrally between its sides, with an arcuate upstanding roller track M which is T- shaped in cross section, with the central web 15 affixed to the endgate and the transverse flange l6 thus disposed outermost.

A roller assembly, indicated generally at H, runs in free or anti-friction relation on theroller track [4, being non-separable therefrom by reason of its construction, as follows:

The roller assembly I! includes, in secured-together relation, a pair of side plates l8 which lap opposite sides of the roller track M. A pair of relatively small, transversely spaced rollers Hare disposed on opposite sides of the central web it; and ride corresponding portions of the transverse flange 16 from within the track. The rollers l9 are aflixed by spindles 20 to forward portionsof the corresponding side plates 18. v

A pair of vertically spaced, relatively large-diameter rollers 2| ride the transverse flange exteriorly; said rollers 2| being journaled, in connection with the side plates l8 and between the same, by spindles 22. The relatively small rollers l9 are disposed in a plane which lies substantially centrally between the axes of the relatively large rollers 2|; the latter being end flanged, as at 23, to assure of their alinement with the roller track 14.

The piston rod 13 of the longitudinal power cylinder ll projects forwardly, and at its front end is fitted with a fork 24, which straddles the roller assembly H; the legs of the fork lying in face to face engagement with the side plates I8, and being pivoted thereto, as at 25. The pivotal axis lies centrally between the axes of the large rollers 2 l, and thus is in substantially the same plane as the axes of the relatively small rollers iii.

The described roller and track unit provides a very practical and effective connection between the piston rod l3 of power cylinder H and the rear endgate B; such connection being free running and imparting no bind at any point in the path of travel. As the piston rod 13 advances to swing the rear endgate 8 from its normally retracted carrying position to its advanced dumping position the track [4 moves upwardly relative to the roller assembly H. In this connection see the dotted line representation of the parts in Fig. 1. It will thus be evident that in any working position of the parts, the roller assembly I1 may run freely on the roller track M, yet with the thrust of the power cylinder ll imparted positively and effectively to the rear endgate 8 for actuating the latter. Also, upon return motion of the piston rod I 3 and rear endgate 8 from advanced to retracted position, the roller assembly I! works easily but with a minimum of loose play.

The arrangement of the front and rear mounts l2 and Ho assures of the above free running of the roller assembly H. The front mount includes an attachment plate 26 projecting rearwardly from the cross beam 3 and transversely spaced bolts 21 connect a dependent right angle bracket 28 to the under side of said plate for limited lat-' eral play; such bolts having spacers 29 thereon which have loose play in corresponding slots S in the plate 26, and the bracket being fixed to the power cylinder I l.

The rear mount l2a comprises a tongue 30 on the cylinder connected between a frame-supported clevis 3| by a cross pin 32, which takes the thrust of the power cylinder; there being suilicient loose play at the pin to permit of limited lateral motion of the power cylinder at the front, and which latter motion the front mount l2 perinits. Thus, the power cylinder can move laterally suflicient to prevent any binding of roller assembly l1, and the latter follows the roller track l4 quite freely.

The longitudinal elongation of the slots S is for the purpose of facilitating installation, With welded-together structures, such as this, the distance betweenthe welded-on clevis 3i and the welded-on cross beam 3 and plate 26 may vary somewhat, while the distance between the cylinder head flange and bracket and the rear end pin hole of the cylinder may also vary slightly. The use of the slots S permits of installation of the power unit without any accurate machining or drilling being necessary.

Similarly, the slight lateral swing of the power unit aiiorded by the loose-play bolts 2'! permits of the track l5 being made and mounted without any machining or very accurate spotting and alining being necessary. Since the greatest lateral movement at the rollers 23 would, in any event, be slight, an almost negligible loose play mounting of pin 32 is sufficient to prevent any binding at the pin.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which letters Patent are desirable:

1. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a, fluid pressure actuated power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgat'e comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and a fork straddling and transversely pivoted to the roller assembly connecting the latter to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced side plates, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with said sideplates, the track including a transverse flange, and different rollers being disposed to ride opposite sides of said flange.

2. A structure, as in claim 1, including a pair or vertically spaced rollers riding the backside of the transverse flange; the fork pivot being disposed between said pair of rollers.

3. A structure, as in claim 2, in which the track is T-sha'ped with the transverse flange rearmost; there being a pair of transversely spaced, alined rollers riding the front of said transverse flange on opposite sides of the central web of said track.

4. A structure, as in claim 3, in which said pair of transversely spaced rollers are in a, plane between the vertically spaced rollers.

5. In an earth working scraper whichincludes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of'the endgate, said track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and a fork straddling and transversely pivoted to the roller assembly connecting the latter to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced, connected-together side plates lapping the track on opposite sides, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with the side plates, separate rollers riding the front and rear of the transverse flange,

6. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, said track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, a roller assembly mountedv on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and a fork straddling and transversely pivoted to the roller assembly connecting the latter to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced, connected-together side plates lapping the track on opposite sides, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with the side plates; there being a pair of transversely spaced rollers riding the front of said flange and a pair of vertically spaced rollers riding the rear of said flange.

7. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprisin an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, said track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and a fork straddling and transversely pivoted to the roller assembly connecting the latter to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced, connectedtogether side plates lapping the track on opposite sides, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with the side plates; there being a, pair of transversely spaced rollers riding the front of said flange and a pair of vertically spaced rollers riding the rear of said flange, and said first named pair being in a, plane extending between the rollers of said last named pair.

8. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, said track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and a fork straddling and transversely pivoted to the roller assembly connecting the latter to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced, connected-together side plates lapping the track on opposite sides, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with the side plates; there being a pair of transversely spaced rollers riding the front of said flange and a pair of vertically spaced rollers riding the rear of said flange, and said first named pair being in a plane extending between the rollers of said last named pair, the fork pivotin to the side plates in substantially the same plane.

9. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, said track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and means pivotally connecting the roller assembly to the power cylinder; said roller assembly including transversely spaced side plates, and a plurality of rollers journaled in con-, nection with said side plates, the track including a transverse flange, and different rollers being disposed to ride opposite sides of said flange.

10. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate to swing the same; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, a roller assembly mounted on the track for antifriction travel therealong, and means pivotally connecting the roller assembly to the power cylinder; the track being T-shaped in cross section with the transverse flange rearmost, and said roller assembly including transversely spaced, connected-together side plates lapping the track on opposite sides, and a plurality of rollers journaled in connection with the side plates, separate rollers riding the front and rear of the transverse flange.

11. A structure, as in claim 10, including a pair of transversely spaced rollers riding the front of said flange and a pair of vertically spaced rollers riding the rear of said flange, and said first named pair being in a plane extending between the rollers of said last named pair.

12. A structure, as in claim 10, including a, pair of transversely spaced rollers riding the front of said flange and a pair of vertically spaced rollers riding the rear of said flange; said pair of vertically spaced rollers being radially flanged at the ends whereby to maintain proper alinement with said track flange.

13. In an earth working scraper which includes a frame, a bowl having a forwardly swingable rear endgate and a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder disposed lengthwise to the rear of said endgate and operative to swing the latter; a connection between the power cylinder and endgate comprising an upstanding, arcuate, roller track on the back of the endgate, a roller assembly mounted on the track for anti-friction travel therealong, and means securing said roller assembly on the adjacent end of the power cylinder; a mount for the power cylinder comprising a loose play connection between the rear end of the cylinder and the frame, an attachment plate on the frame adjacent the front end of the cylinder, said plate being provided with slots, a bracket on the front end of the cylinder, and bolts connecting the bracket to the plate, such bolts passing through the slots in loose play relation.

ALBERT G. GURRIES. JOHN A. WHITE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,170,932 Venema Aug. 29, 1939 2,181,760 Le Bleu Nov. 28, 1939 2,406,826 French et al Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,897 Australia Nov. 21, 1940 

